Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 166, NWS Grand Forks, ND
NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 30, 2026, 10:11 PM CDT for Barnes County, Griggs County, North Dakota. It was in force for 64 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 30, 2026, 10:11 PM CDT (03:11 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 30, 2026, 11:15 PM CDT
- In force
- 64 min
- Issued by
- NWS Grand Forks, ND
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Barnes County, ND, Griggs County, ND
The radar
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 78 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:15 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 3.2 hours before the alert went out and 191 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2000 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -4 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 863 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 68 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 102 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.9
- Supercell composite
- 6.2
The text
As transmitted.
587
WUUS53 KFGF 310311
SVRFGF
NDC003-039-310415-
/O.NEW.KFGF.SV.W.0166.260831T0311Z-260831T0415Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1011 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Griggs County in southeastern North Dakota...
Northwestern Barnes County in southeastern North Dakota...
* Until 1115 PM CDT.
* At 1011 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Juanita to near Spiritwood Lake, moving east at
45 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Locations impacted include...
Cooperstown, Wimbledon, Sanborn, Binford, Red Willow Lake,
Hannaford, and Dazey.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4767 9850 4767 9799 4733 9799 4732 9796
4697 9794 4690 9844 4698 9844 4698 9847
4732 9847 4733 9850
TIME...MOT...LOC 0311Z 248DEG 39KT 4754 9863 4713 9854
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
CJ2 follow-up statements
978
WWUS53 KFGF 310401
SVSFGF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1101 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
NDC003-039-310415-
/O.CON.KFGF.SV.W.0166.000000T0000Z-260831T0415Z/
Griggs ND-Barnes ND-
1101 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1115 PM CDT
FOR EASTERN GRIGGS AND NORTH CENTRAL BARNES COUNTIES...
At 1100 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Aneta to near Bald Hill Dam, moving east at 45
mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Cooperstown, Sibley, and Bald Hill Dam.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4767 9799 4733 9799 4732 9796 4704 9794
4701 9809 4721 9816 4767 9823
TIME...MOT...LOC 0400Z 248DEG 39KT 4773 9794 4732 9785
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
CJ380
WWUS53 KFGF 310411
SVSFGF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1111 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
NDC003-039-310421-
/O.EXP.KFGF.SV.W.0166.000000T0000Z-260831T0415Z/
Griggs ND-Barnes ND-
1111 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR EASTERN GRIGGS AND NORTH
CENTRAL BARNES COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 1115 PM CDT...
The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.
&&
LAT...LON 4767 9799 4733 9799 4732 9796 4704 9794
4701 9809 4721 9816 4767 9823
TIME...MOT...LOC 0411Z 248DEG 39KT 4777 9780 4736 9771
$$
CJWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 30, 6:37 PM CDT, 3 hours 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for isolated to scattered severe storms today with a primary wind threat.
- Wind advisory in effect for strong winds across northeast North Dakota Monday afternoon.
- Scattered but low confidence chances for strong to severe through the work week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 30, 6:37 PM CDT, 3 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
637 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for isolated to scattered
severe storms today with a primary wind threat.
- Wind advisory in effect for strong winds across northeast
North Dakota Monday afternoon.
- Scattered but low confidence chances for strong to severe
through the work week.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 637 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
Several thunderstorms in east central ND have developed out
ahead of the main line, which is still near or even west of the
Missouri River. There have been a few breaks in the clouds
across the southern Red River Valley, and ML CAPE in that area
has jumped up to the 2500-3000 J/kg range. Should see a decrease
in instability as the line to the west approaches around the 9
pm to midnight time frame, but will continue to keep an eye on
the more southerly cells as they continue to track east.
Overall, most of the ensemble updraft helicity trends have a
decrease in severe potential as we head into the overnight, but
our Devils Lake Basin and possibly parts of the western Red
River Valley could see some 60 to 70 mph wind gusts if the line
of storms is stronger than CAM guidance suggests and maintains
itself into our area.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 224 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
...Synopsis...
Troughing is now dominating the high plains with a well defined
upper low moving through MT/Alberta this afternoon. With this wave
will come severe weather this evening/overnight in eastern North
Dakota and strong winds along the south side of the low tomorrow
along the intl border. Beyond these threats the 0.25-0.5" rains
north of HWY 200 tonight will certainly be welcome and beneficial to
easing the worsening drought. It may even put a short stop to the
ongoing wheat/sugar beet harvest. More thunderstorm chances through
the later half of the week, some of which may be severe.
- Today
The strong forcing of the 500mb in MT is already proving to be
enough to initiate storms across eastern MT despite modest MLCAPE of
500-1000 J/kg out there. As storms continue to deepen and grow
upscale they will work into a more buoyant airmass west of the US-83
corridor with sig wind potential across the western/South central
portion of the state. Given decreasing MUCAPE and instability with
time and eastward extent the storms are expected to be on a
weakening trend by the time they arrive in our area around 8-10pm
and midnight in the RRV. This comes with a caveat however, many CAMS
are depicting a bubble of MUCAPE exceeding 3000 j/kg in the southern
RRV that should storms enter it with sufficient organization they
may intensify supporting 60-70mph gusts along and south of HWY 200
through the early morning hours and into west central Minnesota.
This scenario is low confidence but higher impact and worth
mentioning. Overall given weak low level lapse rates and minimal low
level cape (0-3km) QLCS tornados seem unlikely but cannot be ruled
out if storms remain more organized with a balanced UDCZ. Overall as
long as a linear mode prevails hail is a low threat.
- Monday Wind
As the upper low lifts northeast into Lake Manitoba and Lake
Winnipeg strong W/SW winds will wrap around the southern periphery
of the low. EFI does pick up on this nicely with some shading over
the 0.9 threshold for wind gusts which seems to correspond nicely
with high wind warning criteria for us historically, anecdotally
speaking. Given a modest BL depth to around 800mb and flow within
that layer of 30-40kts only moderate cold air advection at the
onset of peak diurnal mixing thinking that getting gusts from
higher aloft to the surface will be more difficult. The result is to
expect gusts of 30-40kts in the afternoon across northeast north
Dakota and especially the Langdon bowl but the peak potential with
gusts nearing 45-50kts seems unrealistic. A few scenarios do bring
bring much drier dewpoints that being shown by the NBM with
resulting MinRH in the 25-30% range overlapping with gusts of 20-
25kts (mainly in southeast North Dakota) with MinRH closer to 35%
overlapping with gusts of 30-35kts in the northern RRV. Overall the
state of the fuels seems unlikely support fast fire spread but near
critical fire weather seems on the table. True Red Flag conditions
seem unattainable at this time.
- Work Week
Near zonal to southwesterly flow aloft continues into next week.
Temps look to be above average with several chances for
precipitation as weak shortwaves come through. Machine learning does
indicate increased chances for severe weather but with a large
spatial spread day to day lowering the confidence at the this time
in impacts. Overall seasonal moisture and increased shear from the
passing shortwaves amid SW flow do conceptually support the risk for
strong to severe storms through the work week.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 637 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026
Most of the TAF sites have MVFR conditions at the moment, and
thunderstorm cells will be moving into KGFK area as the period
starts. These cells are out ahead of the main line of
thunderstorms currently west near the Missouri River. The main
period of convection for our airports will be mostly in the 03
to 08Z time frame, starting soonest at KDVL and ending later at
the MN airports. Confidence is not high enough in the placement
of the heavier cells to reduce visibility due to heavy rain at
this point, but have VCTS or prevailing thunder and MVFR
ceilings with CB. Some MVFR or even IFR clouds will linger
behind the line of convection into early tomorrow morning. VFR
conditions will return to most TAF sites by afternoon. Winds
that are currently southeasterly mostly in the 10 to 15 kt
range will shift around to the southwest and then west behind
the line of thunderstorms. West to southwest winds will become
fairly breezy by the end of the period, with gusts above 25 kts
at KGFK and KFAR, and gusts above 30 kts at KDVL.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Wind Advisory from noon to 7 PM CDT Monday for NDZ006>008-
014>016-026-027-054.
MN...None.
&&
UPDATE...JR
DISCUSSION...TT
AVIATION...JRHazardous weather outlook, Aug 30, 2:54 PM CDT, 7 hours 17 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 254 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026 MNZ001>004-007-027-029-030-040-NDZ024-028>030-038-039-049-052-053- 312000- West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-West Marshall-West Becker-Wilkin- West Otter Tail-Grant-Eddy-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass- Ransom-Sargent-Richland- 254 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this evening and overnight. The main hazards will be damaging winds up to 70 mph. A tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today. NDZ006>008-014>016-026-027-054-312000- Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Nelson- Grand Forks-Western Walsh- 254 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this evening and overnight. The main hazards will be damaging winds up to 70 mph. A tornado cannot be ruled out. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday West winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph are expected Monday afternoon. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today. MNZ005-006-008-009-013>017-022>024-028-031-032-312000- Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington- Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen- South Clearwater-Hubbard-East Becker-East Otter Tail-Wadena- 254 PM CDT Sun Aug 30 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated today.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 10:18 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Benson, Eddy, Nelson, Ramsey | 57 min |
| Aug 30, 10:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Grand Forks, Steele | 30 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.